RESILIENT - FIGHT - COURAGE - SURVIVE - BRAVE -
RESILIENT• FIGHT•COURAGE•SURVIVE•BRAVE - THRIVE
BREAST CANCER awareness
SURVIVOR STORIES Reader stories of survival
BREAST CANCER BASICS Frequently asked questions, understanding different types of breast cancer
TIME FOR TREATMENT Available treatment options AND MORE!
OCTOBER 22, 2023
Oncology Massage Therapy - Healing Touch for Cancer Patients at Tranquil Balance. Oncology massage offers a healing touch and powerful clinical benefits to people coping with cancer. Oncology massage helps to alleviate pain associated with cancer and cancer treatments. Healing touch involves a light gentle touch to restore and balance energy. Oncology massage is adapted to a patient's unique needs such as neuropathy, nausea, and pain associated with cancer treatment. Practitioners with oncology training adjust massage treatments to accommodate for side effects and pain associated with cancer and cancer treatments as well as medical devices such as chemotherapy ports. A recent study published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork states pain from Breast Cancer improves after oncology massage and healing touch. Oncology massage and healing touch were compared as non-pharmacological pain intervention for people with Breast Cancer. Oncology massage and healing touch are safe therapies associated with little to no side effects. Both therapies have proven to help many through their cancer journey. Clients who visit Tranquil Balance for oncology massage share that they have less pain, less anxiety, and better sleep when they receive an oncology massage. Amid the treatment appointments, consider making one for Oncology massage as well to alleviate pain and enhance the healing process.
RESILIENT - FIGHT - COURAGE - SURVIVE - BRAVE - THRIVE
FAQ breast cancer
body. Breast cancer is a form of the disease that begins in the cells of the breast. The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) notes that the cancer can then invade surrounding tissues or spread to other areas of the body.
CAN EXERCISE HELP TO REDUCE MY BREAST CANCER RISK?
he World Health Organization reports that roughly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. By the end of that year, there were nearly eight million women alive who had been diagnosed with the disease in the previous half decade.
A breast cancer diagnosis inevitably leads to questions about the disease. The bulk of those questions undoubtedly are asked by the millions of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. But millions more individuals, including friends and family members of recently diagnosed women, may have their own questions. Women can discuss the specifics of their diagnosis with their physicians. In the meantime, the following are some frequently asked questions and answers that can help anyone better understand this potentially deadly disease.
WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?
Cancer is a disease marked by the abnormal growth of cells that invade healthy cells in the
Being 50 or older is one of various factors that increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer.
The NBCF notes that exercise strengthens the immune system and women who commit to as little as three hours of physical activity per week can begin to reduce their risk for breast cancer. However, even routine exercise does not completely eliminate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN DIET AND BREAST CANCER?
The organization Susan G. Komen®, a nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer, reports that studies have shown eating fruits and vegetables may be linked to a lower risk for breast cancer, while consuming alcohol is linked to an increased risk for the disease.
In addition, the NBCF reports that a high-fat diet increases breast cancer risk because fat triggers estrogen production that can fuel tumor growth.
IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND BREAST CANCER?
The NBCF reports that women who have been using birth control pills for more than five years
Every year, about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women in the United States
are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
However, the organization notes that risk is very small because modern birth control pills contain low amounts of hormones.
CAN BREASTFEEDING REDUCE BREAST CANCER RISK?
Breastfeeding and breast cancer are linked, though the NBCF notes that the role breastfeeding plays in lowering cancer risk depends on how long a woman breastfeeds. The World Cancer Research Fund International notes that evidence indicates that the greater number of months women continue breastfeeding, the greater the protection they have against breast cancer.
IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN STRESS AND BREAST CANCER?
The NBCF notes that researchers have found that traumatic events and losses can alter how the immune system functions, which can provide an opportunity for cancer cells to establish themselves within a person’s body. The NBCF urges women to identify ways to keep their stress levels in check.
Breast cancer education can be a valuable asset as women seek to reduce their risk for the disease.
The World Health Organization reports that roughly 2,300,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020
90% of breast cancer survivors experience long-term consequences as a result of treatment
F L A N D E R S F I S H . C O M
amily history is considered a risk factor for various diseases, and breast cancer is no exception. According to Cancer Research UK, having a first degree relative, which includes a mother, sister or daughter, diagnosed with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman’s risk for breast cancer. However, the American Cancer Society notes that only about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. Hereditary cases of breast cancer are those that result directly from gene mutations passed on from a parent. The relatively small percentage of hereditary cases is important to note, as it means that the vast majority of women who are diagnosed with the disease have no family history of breast cancer.
DID YOU KNOW?
he length of time a women will receive treatment for breast cancer will ultimately depend on a host of variables unique to each individual. According to the nonprofit organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer, an individual diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer can be in active treatment for about one year. The administration of
medicine, the performance or surgery and ongoing therapies are all considered part of active treatment. The Mayo Clinic reports that chemotherapy, a treatment option that utilizes various drugs to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth, can last between three to six months for patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Treatment with
chemotherapy can extend beyond six months for individuals with advanced stage breast cancer. Hormonal therapy also can extend the time breast cancer patients are in treatment, as the American Cancer Society reports that this option typically requires patients to take a pill for five years. However, hormonal therapy can extend past five years in certain instances.
The Patterson-McKiernan Team
SCREENING - PREVENTION - TREATMENT
stories breast cancer
survivor
Laurie McElwee
I had no symptoms. I had never missed a mammogram. During COVID-19 my mammogram was cancelled. A little over a year later, I was watching Robin Roberts talk to Dr. Jen Ashton about her breast cancer journey on GMA and thought to myself, “I really need to get a mammogram.” Within an hour, my phone pinged. It was MyChart telling me they were accepting mammogram appointments. I called right away and got right in.
It was then that I was called in for a series of tests, each with a more unsettling diagnosis. Luckily, I had friends, family, and my church surrounding me. I also found out about two local cancer nonprofits that support cancer services when insurance or other needs are not met.
I have also met a new support system of friends going through the same issues: where to buy mastectomy supplies, and many more lessons of support that I want to share with others. Rather than thinking of myself, I was driven to help others. That is when the idea of a breast cancer fundraiser with my talented connected support system and my community jumped on board to help me with an on-going dream of helping others.
While I am not totally out of the woods, I have hope.
Elaine Grant
When I was a little girl, I thought that it would be so neat to live to the year 2000. Of course, I knew I would be so old (in my 50s). So it was so ironic that on Dec. 29, 1999 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. But 23 years later I have been blessed to have had so many wonderful experiences that I would not have had if I didn't have cancer. There is life after cancer, and it can be fulfilling.
about breast lumps What to know
Breast cancer is a cause for concern for millions of women. Each year about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Canadian Cancer Society indicates around 28,600 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Globally, data from the World Health Organization indicates roughly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
One of the more notable symptoms of breast cancer is the presence of a lump in the breast. Though not all lumps are malignant, it’s important that women learn about breast anatomy and lumps as part of their preventive health care routines.
Mount Sinai says that breast lumps can occur at any age in both men and women. Hormonal changes can cause breast enlargement and lumps during puberty, and boys and girls may even be born with lumps from the estrogen received from their mothers.
It is important to note that the vast majority of breast lumps are benign. The National Institutes of Health says 60 to 80 percent of all breast lumps are non-cancerous. The most common causes of breast lumps are fibroadenomas and fibrocystic changes. Fibroademomas are small, smooth, moveable, painless round lumps that usually affect women who are at an age to have children, indicates the Merck Manual. They are non-cancerous and feel rubbery.
Fibrocystic changes are painful, lumpy breasts. This benign condition does not increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Symptoms often are worse right before one’s menstrual period, and then improve after the period begins.
Additional factors can contribute to the formation of lumps. Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that likely go away on their own or may be aspirated to relieve pain. Complex cysts may need to be removed surgically. Sometimes cysts also may form in milk ducts throughout the breasts.
Lumps also may be the result of injury. Blood can collect under the skin and form a type of lump called a hematoma. Other lumps may be traced to lipomas, which is a collection of fatty tissue or breast abscesses, which typically occur if a person is breastfeeding or has recently given birth.
Additional causes of lumps can be discussed with a doctor. Though the majority of lumps are not a cause for concern, it is important for people to regularly feel their breasts to check for abnormalities. Doctors may recommend annual mammograms to women age 40 and older. In its earliest stages, breast cancer may produce little to
no visible symptoms, but a mammogram may be able to catch something early on.
264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women in the United States.
The Canadian Cancer Society indicates around 28,600 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
Globally, roughly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
breast cancer
re- cent article in the January/February 2023 edition of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians noted that roughly 3.8 million cancer deaths have been averted since 1991. That figure represents a 33 percent overall reduction in the cancer death rate over the last three-plus decades. A host of variables have combined to make that reduction possible, and advancements in cancer treatment are one such component.
Despite improvements in cancer survival rates, the disease remains a formidable foe. Women know that all too well, as various forms of the disease, including breast cancer, continue to affect millions of women each year. The World Cancer Research Fund Internation-
al reports that breast cancer was the most common cancer in the world in 2020, accounting for 12.5 percent of all new cases diagnosed in that year. When diagnosed with breast cancer, women will soon begin treatment, and the following are some of the options doctors may consider as they devise treatment plans.
CHEMOTHERAPY: The aim of chemotherapy is to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth. The National Breast Cancer Foundation® notes that chemotherapy employs a combination of drugs, which are usually administered orally or intravenously. Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy, which means the drugs will travel in the
treatments
bloodstream throughout the entire body. That’s likely why, according to the organization Cancer Research UK, nearly everyone who receives chemotherapy experiences some level of fatigue.
RADIATION: The NBCF notes that radiation therapy utilizes high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy affects only those parts of the body that are treated with radiation, so it might not lead to the same level of fatigue as chemotherapy. However, cancer care teams often utilize both radiation and chemotherapy to treat cancer. When treating breast cancer, radiation therapy is often utilized to destroy any remaining mutated cells in the breast or armpit area after surgery.
Hormone therapy prevents such attachments. The ACS indicates that hormone therapy is often utilized after surgery to help reduce the risk of recurrence. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which are generally administered over a relatively short period of time, hormone therapy is usually taken in pill form for five years.
When discussing a course of treatment with breast cancer patients, doctors may also recommend newer treatments like targeted therapies. The NBCF notes that these treatments, which utilize drugs designed to block the growth of breast cancer cells in specific ways, are often administered in combination with chemotherapy.
HORMONE THERAPY: The American Cancer Society notes that some types of breast cancer are affected by hormones. In such cases, the receptors on breast cancer cells attach to hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which enables them to grow.
Doctors utilize various treatments to help breast cancer patients overcome their disease. Women are urged to ask as many questions as possible as they discuss treatment options with their cancer care teams.
the different types of BREAST CANCER
ndividuals can experience a whirlwind of emotion upon being diagnosed with cancer. No one ever expects to receive such a diagnosis, so the moment a physician delivers such news can be emotional and compromise a person’s ability to focus. Once those emotions settle down and individuals resolve to overcome the disease, they typically have a lot of questions.
One of the questions doctors will attempt to answer is which subtype of cancer a person has. For example, when doctors initially deliver a breast cancer diagnosis, they may explain that further testing will be necessary to determine precisely which type of breast cancer an individual has. Identifying the subtype of breast cancer helps doctors choose the most effective course of treatment, but it’s understandable if patients and their families become confused during the process. The following rundown can help breast cancer patients understand this crucial next step after diagnosis.
HOW IS BREAST CANCER TYPE DETERMINED?
The American Cancer Society notes that breast cancer type is determined by the specific cells in the breast that become cancer. The Mayo Clinic reports that a medical team will use a tissue sample from a patient’s breast biopsy or, for patients who have already undergone surgery, the tumor to identify the cancer type.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BREAST CANCER I MIGHT BE DIAGNOSED WITH?
There are many types of breast cancer, but some are more common than others. Invasive and non-invasive (also referred to as “carcinoma in situ”) are the two main subtypes of breast cancer. According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the most common types of invasive breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma, which affects the inner lining of the milk ducts, and invasive lobular carcinoma, which originates from the glands that produce milk.
The UPMC reports that the most common in situ types are ductal carcinoma in situ, which is cancer that remains within the milk ducts, and lobular carcinoma in situ, which does not often develop into breast cancer though it is considered a risk factor for an invasive form of the disease.
The ACS notes that triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer that accounts for roughly 15 percent of all breast cancers. Triple-negative breast cancer can be difficult to treat.
Less common types of breast cancer, each of which account for between 1 and 3 percent of diagnoses in a given year, include Paget disease of the breast, angiosarcoma and phyllodes tumor.
A breast cancer diagnosis marks the beginning of a sometimes lengthy but often successful journey that has ended in full recovery for millions of women across the globe. More information about the various types of breast cancer can be found at cancer.org.
Melinda Carlisle
22 Holmes St, Mystic 860.460.8002
860.572.9099 mysticmelinda@aol.com
Proudly serving Eastern Connecticut
Put yourself at the top of your list
You have a lot to remember these days when it comes to keeping your family safe and well, but don’t forget one of the most important things… your mammogram.
Screening mammograms are recommended for women each year starting at age 40, and Hartford HealthCare has 34 easy-to-access mammography sites throughout Connecticut that are conveniently located near your office or your home.
Learn more and find our locations by scanning the QR code or visiting HartfordHealthCare.org/Mammography
